Sports
Visa Prevents Amputee Footballers From World Cup
Nigeria amputee footballers are not participating in the ongoing Amputee World Cup in Argentina because they could not secure visa from the country’s embassy.
The Tidesports source reports that more than 30 countries are featuring in the competition which began on October 17 and will end on October 27 in Buenos Aires.
The players, under the aegis of Amputee Football Federation of Nigeria (AFFN), told newsmen that the embassy’s attitude was “frustrating’’ and had wasted their efforts to be part of the event.
Blessing Agu, the team’s goalkeeper, said that they contributed N10, 000 each to enable them procure the visa from the embassy since they had no sponsor.
Agu said that some of them sold their mobile telephone handsets and other personal belongings to get the amount.
He said that in their preparation for the tournament, they defeated their Ghanaian counterparts who are Africa’s number one team 6-2 in a friendly game during Nigeria’s independence anniversary.
“The Ghana team is already in Argentina and we have practically missed because we would have played our first match on Wednesday, it is really disappointing,’’ he said.
Yomi Ojeyemi, a player told newsmen that this was the second time that the Nigerian team was missing the World Cup and that the situation would not help the sport’s development.
“In 2008, we got visa to Turkey for the World Cup but could not get money for tickets and as such did not participate,’’ he said.
Ojeyemi appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to come to their aid and support amputee footballers to keep off the streets and check vices among them.
Ugochukwu Obieze, another player said that the visa denial had developed a negative impact on him, adding that sports administrators in the country were not adequately supporting the physically challenged.
“It appears Nigerians are not interested in amputee football and I am pained because of the love I have for the sport and the high spirit to represent my country in Argentina,’’ he added.
Obieze recalled that God Bless Nigeria Church sponsored them to Liberia in 2008 for the qualifiers where they picked the ticket for the World Cup but the effort was wasted.
“We have always lacked sponsors and it is not good for the development of the sport and ourselves and society at large,’’ he said.
Gboyega Adenisoye, Public Relation Officer of AFFN, told Tidesports source that the invitation to participate came late from the host country and that lack of a sponsor contributed to the visa problem.
Adenisoye said that he had just returned to Lagos from the Argentina Embassy in Abuja where he was given two impossible conditions for their visa.
“The embassy officials said the visa will take not less than 30 days to be ready, while all the contingent has to appear physically before visa can be issued to them,’’ he added.
He regretted that the effort of the footballers to represent the country at the World Cup was not realised and appealed to the government to give attention to physically challenged athletes.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.